Program Planning Guidelines

This format should be followed when we consider creating new staff positions or programs. It's purpose is to help us weigh the costs and benefits of new positions and programs. All proposals being considered should have this basic information available, so they can be considered side by side.

Additionally this format may be useful as a tool to assess current staff positions and programs.

Planning Sheets

A list of programs can be found at General Priorities. Many still need planning sheets developed. There are a lot of programs listed there. See Below for Instructions on creating these sheets.

Creating a Program Planning Sheet

To begin developing the sheet:

• Pick or put a link to the sheets on the list above.
• Edit that page and enter the following text into it and then save it to create an empty framework.

{{subst:Program Planning Sheet}}

• Edit the generated page, answering each question in the empty template. Look for the @ italic comments and replace them with appropriate answers.

The Template Output

Program Basics

• Program Name: @ add program name here
• Program Description:

@ add program description here

• What best describes this program? @ Pick one or two or three, them put them in order and describe why more than one...
  1. Primarily income generating (expected to make money for Free Geek)
  2. Primarily meets program needs (expected to cost more money than it makes)
  3. Administrative (expected to support other programs that generate income and/or meet program needs)
• Why does Free Geek need this program?

@ your answer here

Job Position Basics

• Would there be a dedicated staff position associated with this program? @ pick YES or NO
• Position Title: @ add Position title here
• Job Description: @ add Job description here

Financial costs

• What are the expected financial staffing costs of the program? (Include all costs to the organization such as salary, payroll taxes, and benefits.)

@ add information not detailed below

• What other costs are associated with the program? ()

@ add things like costs of materials needed, etc.

• If there will be a dedicated staff position, how much time would be needed for training?
  • How much time would existing staff need to put in? ______@______ hours
  • How time would existing volunteers need to put in? ______@______ hours
• Once the program is up and running how many staff how many hours per week would it take?
  • In paid staff time? ______@______ hours/week
  • In volunteer time? ______@______ hours/week

Drawbacks

• Outline the intangible costs for the position and program:

@ add info here

• Are there any possible negative impacts on Free Geek's mission, and if so what?

@ add info here

• How will this program affect other programs and staff positions currently in effect?

@ add info here

• How will this program affect other programs and staff positions being considered?

@ add info here

Benefits

• Would the program generate income? @ pick YES or NO
  • If yes, how much income would be expected once the program is up and running? $ _@_ / month
  • If yes, how long would it take for the program to get to that point? @ add estimated time
• How does the program support the mission of Free Geek?

@ add info here

Measuring Success

• How can the success of the program be measured?

@ add info here

• For most income generating positions, the costs initially outweigh the benefits. If this is an income generating program, how long until it is expected to break even?

@ add info here

• Outline a plan for implementing the program:

@ add info here